Sensor malfunction behind emergency landing of Russian airliner departing Armenia

The emergency landing of a Pobeda airline plane operating a flight from Gyumri to Moscow was caused by a malfunction of the decompression sensor, according to Russian authorities.

The Boeing 737-800 operating a passenger flight from the Armenian city of Gyumri to the Russian capital, Moscow, issued a distress signal more than an hour after takeoff on Monday and began an emergency descent before successfully diverting to and landing at Makhachkala Airport.

The Russian Investigative Committee said it is investigating the incident.

It said that all 186 people on board are safe and no one was injured.

The passengers will be flown to Moscow on another plane, while the aircraft involved in the emergency landing is undergoing technical inspection.